Duplex gas-engine.



No. 670,550. Patented Mar. 26, IBM.

W. D. WORTH. DUPLEX GAS ENGINE. Application and June 1:5, mos.

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Patented Mar. 26, [90L W. 0. WORTH. DUPLEX GAS ENGINE. (Application flld Jung 13. 1899.)

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,w. o. WORTH. DUPLEX GAS fsueme. ,A uauoa filed June 13, 1809. (-No Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet 3 pm ulfllllllflllllllllllllll IlllllllllllIQlllllllllllllllllllllIQIIIIIIIIII" 0,, lllll" Ed l I I H Y B a I B B UNITED .TATES WILLIAM O. WORTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO WILLIAM R. DONALDSON, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AND HENRY W. KELLOGG, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN.

DUPLEX GAS-ENGINE. I

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No; 670,550, dated March 26, 1901. Application filed June 13, 1899. Serial No. 720,393 (No model.)

To to whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. WORTH, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Duplex Gas-Engines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

7 1o Thisinventionisanimprovement in duplex gas-engines in which two alternately-acting pistons are employed to propel the main shaft; and the objects of the invention are to provide novel means for compressing and storing air within the pump base or casing and to provide novel means for supplying the cylinders with explosive gases.

The invention further consists in many minor details of construction and combina- 2o tions of parts, and the claims following this description summarize all that I deem novel and of importance therein.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the best form of apparatus known to me, and

wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete engine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof with one fly-wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 5 isa detail vertical section through the gas-com pressing cylinder and valve. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the said gas-compression valve. Fig. 7 is a detail transverse section through the cylin- 5 ders, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view of thefan-blade.

A designates the main shaft, which is pro- Vided with opposite cranks act, which arcinclosed within the hollow base W of the en- 40 gine, the said shaft being journaled in removable boxes or plates "to w, bolted over openings in the ends of base W, and on the projecting ends of the shaft are fly-Wheels A, shown, exterior to the base. The central portion of shaft A intermediate the cranks a. has a central transverse slot (1 in it, through which passes a reciprocating blade B, which is guided by means of plates b b, that extend through slot at on opposite sides of the blade and are connected at their extremities exterior to the outer shaft to the opposite parts I) of a split collar secured to the shaft by means of bolt b (See Fig. 4.) The objects of this split collar 1) are to form a more easily dressed gnideway for blade B and to increase the diameter .of shaft A intermediate the cranks a. This central portion of shaft A, with the collar and blade, is inclosed within an annular pump-chamber, the casing C of which is divided horizontally, as indicatedin Fig. 4, so as to facilitate its location within the base W and its adjustment around the central portion of the shaft. The pump-casing is just as wide as blade B, which projects closely therein, said blade being of a length equal to the internal diameter of the casing; but the casing is set eccentrically to the shaft,

so that the collar 17 impinges against the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4. Obviously as the shaft rotates blade B will be rotated within the casing C. Owing to the eccentric relation of the shaft and casing, it is necessary to provide blade B with an adjustable end B, which telescopes into the main part of the blade, but is normally projected so as to bear against the wall of the casing by means of springs B (See Fig. 8.)

Air is admitted into the upper side of the pump-chamber at one side of shaftAthi-ough an inlet-port c, and the air compressed in said chamber is conducted through a port 0 to a compressed-air-storing chamber or reservoir W in the bottom of base W, as shown in the drawings. This port 0 communicates with the top of the pump-chamber at the side of 8-5 shaft A opposite inlet-porto. By this means at each rotation of shaft A pure air is forced into chamber W and stored therein under pressure for use in the cylinders, as hereinafter explained.

Mounted upon the base Vt directly over a shaft A, are cylinders D D, within which are pistons 01 d, respectively connected by pitmen (1 and d to the cranks a, so that when one piston descends the other ascends. The construction of these pistons is no part of the present invention. The exhaust-ports E of. both cylinders are located near the centers thereof, so as to be uncovered just as the pistons reach the end of their downward stroke, and both of said ports communicate through passages E in the walls of the cylinders with a common exhaust or outlet pipe E (See Fig. 4.) In the side wall of each cylinder, opposite exhaust-ports E and slightly below the upper ends thereof, are air-inlet ports F, which communicate through suitable passages in the walls of the cylinders with an airpassage F, which extends through the walls of the cylinders and base to and communicates with the port 0 and therethrough with the air-rescrvoirW', so that just after the exhaust-ports of either cylinder are opened to permit the burned gases to escape the airport is opened, admitting large quantities of fresh air into the cylinder, driving the burned gases tl1erefrom,and filling it with fresh pure air. Above ports E and near the upper ends of the cylinders are gas'inlet ports 6 in each cylinder, which communicate through passages e respectively with cylinder D arranged aboutin termediate cylinders D D' and for convenience slightly to one side thereof. Check-valves e may be placed in passages 6, so as to prevent escape of any gases from cylinders D D into cylinder D For convenience of construction the passages 6 may be bored out vertically in the walls between the cylinders, and after the check valves are dropped in place the upper ends of the passages can be closed by plugs 6 as indicated in the drawings. The cylinder D is closed at the bottom by a head D and within said cylinder is a piston-valve G, which has a central imperforate partition G, that prevents communication between the upper and lower parts of the cylinder. To said partition is attached the end of the piston-rod l-I,which projects through a proper stufling-box on head D and is connected to the cross-head I-I below cylinder D which cross-head is connected by a link 7L t0 the crank-arm h on a rockshaft h, which is journaled in suitable bearings in base W parallel with the main shaft and is rocked at the proper time by means of a crank-arm A on its outer end, connected to the eccentric-strap A which encircles an cecentric A on one end of the main shaft A. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) Shaft h is rocked so as to reciprocate piston-valve G once for each revolution of shaft A.

Gas is admitted into cylinder D through a central port D and in the walls of valve G on opposite sides of partition Gare ports g g, respectively adapted to register with port D, Fig. 5, when the valve is in its lowermost and uppermost position, and thus admit gas into the upper or lower ends of the cylinder D In the wall of valve G, next cylinder D and below the partition G, is a port I, which extends up through the wall of the valve and opens above the partition, so that said port communicates only with the interior of cylinder D above the valve. In the wall of the valve G, next cylinder D, but above the partition, is a port 2, which extends through the wall of the valve and opens below the partition, so that said port 2' communicates only with the cylinder D below said partition. The object of this arrangement of ports is that gas will be admitted into cylinder D only on the upstroke of valve G and into cylinderD only on the downstroke of said valve.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 5 that the gas-inlet port D registers with the inlet-ports g g only momentarily during a fraction of the stroke of valve G, and when ports D and g register ports 7." and passage e, leading into cylinder D, also register. There is therefore no communication between the upper end of cylinder D into which the gas is entering, and either cylinder D or D When the valve G rises so that ports 9 and D register, port I also registers with passage e, leading to cylinder D; but there is no communication between the lower end of cylinder D and either cylinder D or D. This construction of valve and ports causes the valve when moving either up or down to create a partial vacuum within that end of cylinder D from which it is moving and to compress gas within the other end of said cylinder. For instance, if the valve be moved downward before portD registers with port 9 a partial vacuum is created in the upper end of cylinder D while the gas below partition G is compressed before it is admitted into cylinder D Therefore at the moment port g registers within port D the partial vacuum in cylinder D will be sufficient to forcibly suck into cylinder D enough gas to suffice for an explosion in cylinder D when subsequently injected into the latter. The object of creating this partial vacuum and consequent suction is to cause the gas to enter cylinder D very quickly, so that the engine can operate at high speed without using any extra pressure upon the gas or to enable a carbureter (such as is shown in my application for Letters Patent Serial No. 719,939, filed June 9, 1899) to be employed in connection with this engine.

The gas compressed by the descent of the valve is admitted through port 2' and passage 6' into cylinder D under sufficient pressure to insure its quick entrance therein. Of course upon the ascent of the valve a partial vacuum is created below it, so that the gas will be sucked into the lower end of the cyl' inder D very rapidly when ports D and g register, while the gases compressed in the upper end of the cylinder D are simultaneously admitted into cylinder D at the proper time through passages I and 6. Cylinder D and valve G really constitute a gas-pump, which alternately sucks in gas by means of apartial vacuum and then compresses it, and the suction takes place at one end of the pump while compression is taking place at the other end.

device of any suitable construction.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the burned gases can escape from cylinder D through port E and fresh air onter the same cylinder through ports F, while a charge of air and gas has been compressed in cylinder D and is ready to be exploded therein. Upon the ignition of such gases piston d descends and piston d rises. In so doing ports E and F in cylinder D are closed, and just as the upper end of piston (1 reaches the port 6 of cylinder D a charge of com pressed gas is admitted thereinto from pump D and then during the rest of the upward stroke of piston d the charges of gas and air are compressed therein. As piston (1 reaches the end of its downward stroke its ports E and F are successively uncovered and the burned gases allowed to escape, while volumes of fresh compressed air are introduced therein from reservoir W.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinders, pistons and main shaft having opposite cranks, a pumping-chamber inclosing a portion of said main shaft and located between said cranks, and a piston in said chamber attached to and actuated by said shaft, for the purpose and substantially as de scribed.

2. In an engine, the combination of an airreservoir, the main shaft, a pair of cylinders above said main shaft, and pistons in said cylinders respectively connected to the cranks of said main shaft; with a pumping-chamber surrounding the main shaft between the cranks, a rotary pump-piston in said chamber connected to and actuated by the main shaft, and a port for conducting air from said chamber to said reservoir, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an engine, the combination of the base, an air-reservoir therein, the main shaft journaled in said base, a pair of cylinders above said main shaft, and pistons in said cylinders respectively connected to the cranks of said main shaft; witha pumping-chamber in said base intermediate the cranks of the main shaft and surrounding the latter but eccentric thereto, a pumppiston in said chamber connected to and actuated by the main shaft, and a port for conducting air from said chamber to said reservoir, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. In a gas-engine, the combinationof a pair of cylinders, a gas-pumping chamber between said cylinders communicating therewith, and a single gas-inlet into said pumping chamber; with a piston-valve in said pumpingchamber having a central partition, gas-inlet ports above and below said partition adapted to alternately register with the inletport of'the pump-cylinder, and ports respectively opening above and below the partition and extending through the wall of the valve to the opposite sides of the partition, adapted to respectively register with the inlet-passages of the respective working cylinders, for the purpose and substantially as described.

5. In a gas-engine, the combination of the main shaft, the pair of cylinders above the same, the oppositely-working pistons therein connected to said main shaft, and an intermediate gas-pumping chamber between said cylinders, having outlets communicating therewith, and a single gas-inlet into said pumping-chamber; with the piston-valve G in said pumping-chamber having a central partition, gas-inlet ports above and below said partition adapted to alternately register with the inlet-port of the pumpcylinder, and ports respectively opening above and below the partition and extending through the Wall of the valve to the opposite sides of the partitions, so that they are adapted to respectively register with the inlet-passages of the respective working cylinders, for the p n rpose and substantially as'described.

6. In a gas-engine, the combination of the base, the main shaft journaled on said base having oppositely-disposed cranks, the'pumpchamber surrounding the main shaft intermediate the eranks, and the piston in said pump-chamber operated by said main shaft; with a pair of cylinders mounted upon said base, the pistons therein respectively connected to the cranks of the main shaft, the gas-pumping cylinder beside said main cylinders, the piston-valve therein constructed substantially as described, the roclcshaft and connections for operating said rock-shaf t from the main shaft, and exhaust-ports and airinlet ports near the lower ends of said cylinders, and the gas-inlet ports and passages for conducting gas to said cylinders from the gaspumping cylinder, and means for igniting the explosive gases, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a gas-engine, the combination of the base, the air-reservoir, the main shaft journaled on said base having oppositely-disposed cranks, the pump-chamber surrounding the main chamber intermediate the cranks, the piston in said pump-chamber operated by said main shaft, the air-inlet port to said pum ping-chamberand the outlet-port of said pumping-chamber leading to the said reservoir; with a pair of cylinders mount-ed upon said base, their exhaust-ports, the pistons therein respectively connected to the cranks of the main shaft, the gas-pumping cylinder beside said main cylinders, the piston-valve therein constructed substantially as described, the rock-shaft and connectionsfor operating said rock-shaft from the main shaft,

the air-inlet ports and passages, whereby air is conducted into said cylinders from the said reservoir, and the ports and passages communicating with the said working cylinders and the gas-pumping cylinders, and means for igniting the explosive gases, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinders, pistons and main shaft, an airpumping chamber through which said shaft passes, and an air-storing chamber communicating with the pump-chamber, and a rotary pump-piston within said pump-chamber actuated by said shaft and playing through a slot therein, for the purpose and substantially as described.

9. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder, piston and main shaft, the latter being transversely slot-ted, an air storing chamber, and a circular air-pumping chamher through which said shaft passes eccentrically, and apump-piston within said pumping-chamber connected to and actuated by said shaft and playing th rough the slot therein, and means for regulating the admission of air to the cylinder from said storing-chamher, for the purpose and substantially as described.

10. In a gas-engine, the combination of the main shaft, cylinder and piston, and an airstoring chamber; with a pumping-chamber intermediate the air-chamber and cylinder through which said main shaft passes eccentric/ally, a rotary pump-piston within said pumping chamber attached to said main shaft, and means for admitting air from the pump-chamber to the storing-chamber and means for conducting air from the storingchamber past the pump-chamber and to the cylinder, for the purpose and substantially as described.

11. In agas-engine, the combination of the cylinders,pistons and main shaft having opposite cranks,a circular pu mp-chamber inclosing part of said main shaft between said cranks and located eccentrically to said shaft; and a rotary piston in said chamber attached to and actuated by said shaft, for the purpose and substantially as described.

12. In a gas-engine, the combination of the double-cranked main shaft, a pair of cylinders above said main shaft, pistons on said cylinders respectively connected to cranks on said main shaft, a pumping-chamber surrounding the main shaft between the cranks, and a rotary pumping-piston in said chamber connected to and actuated by the main shaft between the cranks, for the purpose and substantially as described.

13. In a gas-engine, the combination of a pair of cylinders, the pistons therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas-pumping chamber intermediate the cylinders, the gasinlet thereto, and the gas-ports leading therefrom to the cylinders respectively, the pistonvalve in said chamber and the ports in said valve whereby gas is first drawn into the pump by suction and theri forced into the cylinders under compression, with an air-pumping chamber surrounding the shaft, a rotary piston therein actuated by the main shaft, and means for conducting the compressed air from said air-pump to said cylinders alternately.

14'.- In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder, the piston therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas-pumping chamber, the ported piston-valve in said chamber and the ports controlled by said valve 5 with an air-pumping chamber surrounding the shaft, a rotary piston therein actuated by the main shaft, and means for conducting the compressed air from said pump to said cylinder, a rock-shaft beside the main shaft and connections for operating said gas-pump piston from said rock-shaft.

15. In a gas-engine, the combination of a pair of cylinders, the pistons therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas-pu'm ping chamber intermediate the cylinders, the ported piston-valve in said chamber and the ports controlled by said valve whereby gas is first drawn into the pump by suction and then forced into the cylinders alternately under compression; with an air-pumping chamber surrounding the shaft, a rotary piston therein actuated by the main shaft, and means for conducting the compressed air from said airpump to said cylinders alternately, a rock shaft beside the main shaft and connections for operating said gas-pump-valve piston from said rock-shaft.

16. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder, the piston therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas-pumping chamber, the ported piston-valve in said chamber, and the ports controlled by said valve; with an airstoring chamber, a rotary air-pumping chamber surrounding the shaft between the cranks thereon, a rotary air-pump piston playing through a slot in the shaft, means for conducting air from said air-pumping chambers to the storing-chamber, and means for admitting air from the storing-chamber into the cylinders alternately.

17. In a gas-engine, the combination of a pair of cylinders, the pistons therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas-pumping chamber intermediate the cylinders, the ported piston-valve in said chamber and the ports controlled by said Valve whereby gas is drawn into the pump by suction and then forced into the cylinders alternately under compression; with an air-storing chamber, a rotary air-pumping chamber surrounding the shaft piston playing through a slot in the shaft, means for conducting air from said air-pumping chamber to the storing-chamber, and means for admitting air from the storingchamber into the cylinders alternately.

18. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder, the piston therein, the main shaft, a gas-pumping chamber, the ports communibetween the cranks thereon, a rotary air-pu mp a gas-pu mpin g chamber intermediate the cyl-- inders, the ports communicating therewith,

theported piston in said gas-pumping chamher, and means for operating said ported piston from the main shaft; with a circular airpumping chamber surrounding said shaft intermediate the cranks thereon, a piston within said air-pumping chamber connected to said shaft, an air-storing chamber connected to said air-pumping chamber, and passages for conducting air from the storing-chamber to the cylinders, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

20. In a gas-engine, the combination of a pair of cylinders, the pistons therein, the main shaft actuated thereby, the gas pumping chamber intermediate the cylinders, the double-ported piston-valve in said chamber and the ports respectively communicating with said cylinders controlled by said valve,whereby gas is alternately drawn into the pump by suction and then forced into the proper cylinder under compression, ga's being drawn into one end of the pump while being compressed and expel led from the other end there of; with a rotary air-pump actuated by the main shaft, and means for conducting the compressed air from-said pump to said cylinder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. WORTH.

In presence of B. P. DONNELLY, W. R. DONALDSON. 

